Lower a-frame bushing assembly

ABSTRACT

Bearing assembly that is of integral construction or manufacture and is capable of internal lubrication. The all metal construction gives a long lasting, easily installable, easy to lubricate, smooth ride bushing assembly.

This application claims benefit of the priority of Provisional patentapplication Ser. No. 60/881,616, filed Jan. 22, 2007.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Lower A-frame bushing assemblies are not new to the art. However, noneof the prior art devices combine the integral construction of theinstant device along with the ability of the bushing assembly to beinternally lubricated. Bushing assemblies are standard equipment onvehicles in an effort to control suspension, eliminate vibration andnoise. This bushing assembly involves the incorporation of three membersthat are capable of relative motion therebetween the members.

THE INVENTION

Thus, this invention deals with a lower A-frame bushing assemblycomprising in combination a bearing housing, a bearing insert, a bushingand a retention ring.

The bearing housing has a near end, a distal end, an outside surface, aninside surface, an internal opening through the near end to the distalend, a portion of the said inside surface being circumferentiallygrooved for retention of a retaining ring therein, said retaining ringsecuring the bushing insert within the bushing housing,

The bearing insert has a bearing insert near end, a bearing insertdistal end, a bearing insert internal opening, a bearing insert insidesurface, a bearing insert outside surface, an opening through saidbearing insert inside surface to said insert bearing outside surface,said bearing insert internal opening having a near end and a distal end.

There is a bushing having a bushing near end, a bushing distal end, abushing outside surface, a bushing inside surface, an opening throughsaid bushing from the bushing near end to the bushing distal end and asecond opening through the bushing inside surface extending through tothe bushing outside surface.

The bushing outside surface lays inside the bearing insert insidesurface, said bearing insert outside surface laying inside the insidesurface of said bushing housing and being retained within said bearinghousing by the retention ring inserted into the circumferential groove.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a full side view of the device of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional side view of the device of FIG. 1 throughline A-A with the exception that the retainer ring is set forth in itsentirety.

FIG. 3 is a full view of one embodiment of the bearing housing.

FIG. 4 is a full view of one embodiment of an internal bushing.

FIG. 5 is a full view of one embodiment of the bushing insert.

FIG. 6 is a full view of one embodiment of a bearing housing.

FIG. 7 is a full view of one embodiment of an internal bushing.

FIG. 8 is a full view of one embodiment of the insert.

FIG. 9 is a full top view of a standard retaining ring.

FIG. 10 is a full view of another embodiment of the bearing housing.

FIG. 11 is a full view of another embodiment of a bearing.

FIG. 12 is a full view of another embodiment of an insert.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a full side view of a device of this invention and FIG. 2 is afull cross sectional view of the device of FIG. 1 through line A-Ashowing an internal view of the bushing assembly 2. FIG. 1 shows thebushing assembly 2, the bushing housing 4 and the bushing insert 6. FIG.2 shows the bushing housing 4 and the insert 6. Both are held in placevia the retaining ring 68. Also shown is the internal bushing 8 which isconnected to the vehicle. The internal bushing 8 is placed inside of theinsert and attached. This is then placed within the bushing housing 4and secured within that housing via the retention ring 68.

FIG. 3 is a full side view of one embodiment of the bearing housing 4.This FIG. 3 shows the near end 14 and the distal end 16. It also showsthe internal opening 12. Both the near end 20 and distal end 22 of theinternal opening 22 are shown. The inside surface 26 of the openingtherethrough and the outside 24 are also shown.

FIG. 4 is a full side view of one embodiment of an internal bushing 8.The bushing 8 has a near end 52 and a distal end 54. The bushing 8 alsohas an opening 58 through it extending from the near end 52 to thedistal end 54. There is also a second opening 56 that extends from theinside surface 64 through to the outside surface 66. This opening 56facilitates the lubrication of the bushing 8.

FIG. 5 is a full side view of one embodiment of the bushing insert 6.The insert 6 has a near end 32 and a distal end 34. Also shown is anopening 38 through it extending from the near end 32 through to thedistal end 34 of the bushing insert 6. There is also a second opening 36through it that extends from the inside surface 44 to the outsidesurface 46 for the purpose of lubrication.

FIG. 7 is a full side view of one embodiment of a bushing 8. The bushing8 has a near end 52 and a distal end 54. The bushing 8 also has anopening therethrough 58 extending from the near end 52 to the distal end54. There is also an opening that extends from the inside surface 64through to the outside surface 66. This opening facilitates thelubrication of the bushing 8

FIG. 8 is a full view of one embodiment of the bushing insert 6. Theinsert 6 has a near end 32 and a distal end 34. Also visible is anopening therethrough 38 extending from the near end 32 through to thedistal end 34 of the bushing insert 6. There is also an openingtherethrough 36 that extends from the inside surface 44 to the outsidesurface 46 again for the purpose of lubrication.

FIG. 9 is a full top view of a standard retaining ring 68. The retainingring 68 has a top surface 70 and an opposite bottom surface 72 (notshown).

FIG. 10 is a full view of another embodiment of the bearing housing 4.The bearing housing 4 has a near end 20 and a distal end 22. The bearinghousing 8 also has an opening 58 through it extending from the near end20 to the distal end 22. There is a second opening that extends from theinside surface 26 through to the outside surface 24.

FIG. 11 is a full view of another embodiment of a bearing 8. The bearing8 has a near end 60 and a distal end 62. Also shown is an opening 58extending from the near end 60 through to the distal end 62 of thebearing 8. There is a second opening 56 through it that extends from theinside surface 64 to the outside surface 66 for the purpose oflubrication.

FIG. 12 is a full view of another embodiment of an bushing insert 6. Thebushing insert 6 has a near end 32 and a distal end 34. Also shown is anopening 38 extending from the near end 32 through to the distal end 34of the bushing insert 6. There is also an opening 36 that extends fromthe inside surface 44 to the outside surface 46 for the purpose oflubrication.

1. A lower A-frame bushing assembly comprising in combination a bearinghousing, a bearing insert, a bushing and a retention ring that areintegral, said bearing housing having a near end, a distal end, anoutside surface, an inside surface, an internal opening through the nearend to the distal end, a portion of the said inside surface beingcircumferentially grooved for retention of a retaining ring therein,said retaining ring securing the bushing insert within the bushinghousing, said bearing insert having a bearing insert near end, a bearinginsert distal end, a bearing insert internal opening, a bearing insertinside surface, a bearing insert outside surface, an opening throughsaid bearing insert inside surface to said insert bearing outsidesurface, said bearing insert internal opening having a near end and adistal end, a bushing having a bushing near end, a bushing distal end, abushing outside surface, a bushing inside surface, an opening throughthe bushing from the bushing near end to the bushing distal end and asecond opening through the bushing inside surface extending through tothe bushing outside surface, said bushing outside surface laying insidesaid bearing insert inside surface, said bearing insert outside surfacelaying inside the inside surface of said bushing housing and beingretained within said bearing housing by the retention ring inserted intothe circumferential groove.
 2. A bushing assembly as claimed in claim 1wherein, all components are manufactured from metal.
 3. A bushingassembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said bushing is welded withinthe insert.
 4. A bushing assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein, saidbushing and insert and held within the confines of the bearing housing.5. A bushing assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein, bushing isinternally lubricated.
 6. A bushing assembly as claimed in claim 1wherein, all components are manufactured from ceramic.
 7. A bushingassembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the components are manufacturedfrom a combination of ceramic components and metal components.